Any watch collectors here?
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,869
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From: Minneapolis, MN
My next watch will be an Explorer II white face.
I wear my watches on my right hand so I prefer a more durable daily watch which is why I love my Suunto Observer, amazing quality for a digital with all the bells and whistles while not being the size of a large pizza.
I wear my watches on my right hand so I prefer a more durable daily watch which is why I love my Suunto Observer, amazing quality for a digital with all the bells and whistles while not being the size of a large pizza.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 289
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From: Huntsville, AL
My two indulgences are cars and watches, too. I was talking with a business partner in San Jose over a Ketel One. He said, "Fast cars, fine watches, and a good drink. What else is there?" One of his buddies walks by and says, "airplanes". A whole other level... 
My collection has included or currently includes:
Steel and Gold Oyster date-just, jubilee bracelet, gold dial.
Steel and black Submariner
Steel and black Daytona (yup, paid list)
Steel and gold Submariner with blue dial
Breitling Crosswind with gold bezel, mother of pearl subdials, and brown croc strap
Beater is a Swiss Army with orange dial and black rubber strap
Also a few including a Movado, Tag, etc.
JPOG
My collection has included or currently includes:
Steel and Gold Oyster date-just, jubilee bracelet, gold dial.
Steel and black Submariner
Steel and black Daytona (yup, paid list)
Steel and gold Submariner with blue dial
Breitling Crosswind with gold bezel, mother of pearl subdials, and brown croc strap
Beater is a Swiss Army with orange dial and black rubber strap
Also a few including a Movado, Tag, etc.
JPOG
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,543
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From: Vegas baby!!
1) Many watches made today, possibly 90% (especially quartz watches), regardless of the brand, use standard ETA movements.
As an example, ALL TAG Heuer watches use Swiss Made ETA movements - yes it comes as a shock to many that TAG (as well as Omega, Breitling, Tissot, Cartier etc) do not make their own movements but buy them from ETA. Omega has been using ETA movements in their watches almost exclusively since 1980. Many of the major watch companies (including Omega) are owned by the SWATCH Group, which owns ETA. Starting
to see the picture?
When you go to Wal-Mart and see all those watches with Gruen, Bulova, Elgin, Waltham, Hamilton, etc. on the dial, that is exactly what you are getting, the name, the watches are for the most part made in Asia and most if not all will have ETA movements inside. Gruen went out of business for the most part about 30-35 years ago. Bulova hasn't made their own watches since the mid 1980's. Elgin went out of business in about 1966-1967. Hamilton was moved to Asia in 1970 and their watches are now made of Asian components, they made their last American railroad watch in 1969. Waltham has been completely out of business since 1957. So, what are you paying for with the modern watch (especially quartz)? Well, mostly the name and the styling.
...
As for modern mechanical watches, Rolex still makes their own movements, as does Seiko, most of the other companies use ETA movements in one form or another (sometimes slightly reworking them in their factories...
As an example, ALL TAG Heuer watches use Swiss Made ETA movements - yes it comes as a shock to many that TAG (as well as Omega, Breitling, Tissot, Cartier etc) do not make their own movements but buy them from ETA. Omega has been using ETA movements in their watches almost exclusively since 1980. Many of the major watch companies (including Omega) are owned by the SWATCH Group, which owns ETA. Starting
to see the picture?
When you go to Wal-Mart and see all those watches with Gruen, Bulova, Elgin, Waltham, Hamilton, etc. on the dial, that is exactly what you are getting, the name, the watches are for the most part made in Asia and most if not all will have ETA movements inside. Gruen went out of business for the most part about 30-35 years ago. Bulova hasn't made their own watches since the mid 1980's. Elgin went out of business in about 1966-1967. Hamilton was moved to Asia in 1970 and their watches are now made of Asian components, they made their last American railroad watch in 1969. Waltham has been completely out of business since 1957. So, what are you paying for with the modern watch (especially quartz)? Well, mostly the name and the styling.
...
As for modern mechanical watches, Rolex still makes their own movements, as does Seiko, most of the other companies use ETA movements in one form or another (sometimes slightly reworking them in their factories...
no offense to anyone, but seeing how NON-impressively Tag cases/bracelets are made, and considering the fact that they use simple mass-produced movements... I've always felt that they are one of the biggest ripoffs in the horological world.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: City
"Hamilton was moved to Asia in 1970 and their watches are now made of Asian components, "
Sorry, but this is patently untrue. Hamilton use the Swiss ETA movements, and are owned by Swatch group, as well. I believe the assembly is in France, IIRC. One wonders how many other errors are present on that page.
Sorry, but this is patently untrue. Hamilton use the Swiss ETA movements, and are owned by Swatch group, as well. I believe the assembly is in France, IIRC. One wonders how many other errors are present on that page.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,406
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From: Russkii Hill
hamiltons automatic movements are swiss made. their quartz movements could be japanese though. the article is a bit of a stretch. i didnt read it all of it though. just the excerpt. i dont really follow the watch brands listed youd see at zales or something like bulouva or ebal, but jaeger made most of the swiss movements for the larger elite companies. they have since said they will stop doing so which has a lot of companies hoarding up old calibres.
as for tag, their mechanicals arent too bad. they get a bad wrap because people are paying 800 dollars for a quartz movement most of the time. they arent really considered a watch anyone would collect though. its about the same as saying, i collect seikos as they are heavily mass produced. rolexes are too, but somehow manage to remain at the top of demand.
im not 100% sure, but the numbers are about like this
600,000 rolex sold per year
80k omegas
as for tag, their mechanicals arent too bad. they get a bad wrap because people are paying 800 dollars for a quartz movement most of the time. they arent really considered a watch anyone would collect though. its about the same as saying, i collect seikos as they are heavily mass produced. rolexes are too, but somehow manage to remain at the top of demand.
im not 100% sure, but the numbers are about like this
600,000 rolex sold per year
80k omegas